By John Kyle, Louisiana Baptist communications team director ALEXANDRIA, La.  (LBM)--The Executive Board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention voted to move the location and time of the 2020 LBC Annual Meeting to Louisiana College, Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 10 in the Guinn Auditorium. The vote took place during the board’s Sept. 29 meeting at Tall Timbers Conference Center in Woodworth. “We appreciate Dr. Rick Brewer’s offer to allow us to gather at the Guinn Auditorium for this important gathering of Louisiana Baptists,” said Steve Horn, Executive Director for Louisiana Baptists. “Our meeting will begin at 12:45 p.m. and conclude by 5 p.m. which should allow messengers to drive in and home the same day if they choose to do so.” Horn noted that only essential business, including reports from the social and moral concerns committee, the resolutions committee and entity reports, will be conducted during the abbreviated meeting. “We’ll elect officers, approve budgets, consider amendments and allow messengers to introduce new business as is our practice,” Horn continued. LBC President David Cranford, pastor, First Baptist Church, Ponchatoula, announced that Resilient will be the theme for this year’s Annual … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM)—Voters will be offered the opportunity to protect state pro-life laws by approving Amendment #1 on the ballot, Nov. 3. Known as the Love Life Amendment, this change to the state constitution is needed because of developments in 12 other states. In each case, a state court ruled that it had found in that particular state constitution a right to abortion – but the rulings were based on creative interpretations of a general phrase or vague wording and not on anything that specifically stated such rights. In one fell swoop all the commonsense protections for mothers and their unborn children that had been passed over the years by each state's pro-life legislatures were undone by an activist court. The Love Life Amendment does not outlaw abortion or address such controversies as exceptions for rape and incest. The language simply makes clear that there is no stated right to abortion in our Constitution: Amendment #1: Do you support an amendment declaring that, to protect human life, a right to abortion and the funding of abortion shall not be found in the Louisiana Constitution? Please protect the unborn and vote “yes” on Amendment #1. … [Read more...]

By Brandon Brown, Wildcats Media PINEVILLE, La. (Wildcats Media) - Louisiana College has been named the safest college campus in Louisiana by Niche.com. “Since coming to Louisiana College to serve as president in 2015 the safety and security of the campus community has been at the top of my mind,” said LC President Rick Brewer. “The Homeland Security grant we recently received underscores this commitment and will expedite and expand campus safety and security exponentially over the years ahead.” LC ranked ahead of larger schools in the state such as Louisiana Tech University (No. 2), Nicholls State University (No. 5) and McNeese State University (No. 10). Niche uses a letter grade system. With A+ being the highest overall grade possible, LC garnered an A- for safety on campus. Brewer said LC has significantly improved campus safety and security since 2015 by adding campus lighting and surveillance cameras. The school also hired Clifford Gatlin, a former law enforcement officer, as chief of security. Additionally, the school received a $100,000 grant that will will be used for improved lighting around buildings, parking lots, and residence halls. Cameras will be purchased and installed around campus for improved … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff SIMMESPORT, La. (LBM) – Presley Bordelon, minister of youth at Life Point Community Church in Mansura, died Sunday, Sept. 27. He was 58. “Presley loved God and he loved others, especially those who were hurting,” Jacob Crawford, former pastor of Life Point Community Church, told the Baptist Message. “All of the kids at church called him Pop.” A life-long resident of Simmesport, Bordelon accepted Christ as a teenager at Acadian Baptist Center in Eunice. Bordelon not only was licensed and ordained to the Gospel ministry at Life Point Community Church, but he became minister of youth in July 2016 and associate pastor in 2018 of the congregation. He also, in 2016, helped start Grace Point Ministry Center in Simmesport, a ministry of Life Point Community Church. Before pursuing a call to ministry, Bordelon worked in law enforcement as an employee at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola and later as warden of the Avoyelles Parish Jail in Marksville. He also served as alderman at large on the Simmesport Town Council. Bordelon is survived by his wife, Gloria; daughter, Liza Lyons (John) of Boyce; step-sons, Davilin Mose (Aerial) and Frank Mose (Kayla) of Marksville; sister, Suzanne … [Read more...]

By Louisiana College media relations PINEVILLE, La. (LCNews) - College students today face very different technological needs than their parents’ generation. The increased demands on their attention and seismic cultural shifts that have occurred in the last few years call for a college campus that can accommodate today’s needs without sacrificing integrity and rigor. With that at the forefront, Louisiana College President Rick Brewer has announced a restructuring of the organizational structure as well as a new mission statement for the school. The new mission statement: Louisiana College is a Christ-centered community committed to Academic Excellence where students are equipped for Lives of Learning, Leading, and Serving. The new mission statement of the college was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees at its May 8 meeting. “It isn’t meant to disregard the elements of the previous mission statement established in 2006,” Brewer said, “rather to build on the strong foundation that already exists at LC. The former mission statement has become our Guiding Principle.” Brewer has worked diligently since taking leadership of the college in 2015 to address organizational and fiscal issues to lead the school … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist leaders have announced that the 2020 Youth Evangelism Celebration will move to a regional format this year because of novel coronavirus pandemic attendance restrictions. YEC originally was scheduled to convene at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, Nov. 22-23. Brandon Lewis, youth ministry strategist for Louisiana Baptists, said his team has monitored the situation for several months and prayed about the best way to move forward. Though details have not been finalized, Lewis is thankful youth groups still will be able to gather at muiltiple venues to celebrate Christ. “YEC is going on the road!” Lewis said. “2020 has taken so much away from all of us, so we’re asking the Lord, and working with local churches, to provide a safe, fun and uplifting experience for students. We need a spiritual booster shot, if you will, to close out this crazy year.  While we are certainly disappointed that we aren’t able to gather in one group, we are excited about what God has in store for us.” New dates and locations are expected to be announced by mid-October. Groups who have registered will have their fees refunded automatically. Additional questions about YEC can be … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff FRANKLIN, La. (LBM) – Darrell Guy, a church planter in Franklin, died Thursday, Sept. 17. He was 62. Born in Franklin, Guy in 2016 started Unity One Baptist Church in his hometown. According to the Annual Church Profile, Unity One grew from 53 in worship attendance by the end of 2016 to 70 in 2019. Guy baptized 52 new converts during his time at Unity One Baptist, including a high of 35 in 2017. Though he continued to serve as pastor of Unity One Baptist, he recently started Unity Two Baptist in Morgan City. Additionally, he was moderator of Gulf Coast Baptist Association. When he was not serving as pastor, Guy worked as purchasing agent for the City of Franklin. He was a graduate of Grambling State University and later attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a master of arts in pastoral ministry. Guy is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Guy, three children, Darreon Griffin, Dana Guy, Darrell Guy Jr., and one adopted nephew, Troy Giddens. A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, at Unity One Baptist. Visitation will precede the service: 5-7 p.m., Friday, at MK Dixon Funeral Home in Baldwin and noon-12:45 p.m., Saturday, at Unity One … [Read more...]